What Does Matthew 26:36 Mean in the King James?
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Greek prayer verb points toward an address to God, and Jesus makes that movement in Gethsemane, a place named for pressing oil.
THE MEANING
Other people can be near without entering the innermost address. Jesus asks his disciples to stay while he goes there to pray; Gethsemane carries the sense “oil press,” placing that turning within a name of pressing.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that prayer belongs only in calm moments gives way here: Jesus goes to pray in Gethsemane, the oil press.
THE ROOT
προσεύξωμαι
proseuxōmai
GROWS FROM
εὐχ
pray, wish, or vow
The verb joins πρός, “toward,” with εὔχομαι, “pray, wish, or vow”: prayer is an address directed toward God. Its word family keeps prayer close to expressed desire, so this is a movement of relationship, not merely a religious activity.
ALSO GROWS
euchē: prayer; vow
εὐχή
The noun shares the root and holds prayer alongside a spoken vow.
euchomai: pray; wish; vow
εὔχομαι
This verb is the base of the word Matthew uses for Jesus’ prayer.
גת שמנים
Gat Shemanim
GROWS FROM
שׁמן
oil; fatness or richness
“Gethsemane” in this verse is Gat Shemanim. The place-name is commonly traced to Aramaic for “oil press.” Its name lets the setting itself carry the image of pressing as Jesus goes there to pray.
ALSO GROWS
shemen: oil
שֶׁמֶן
This is the oil named in Gethsemane’s traditional derivation.
shamen: fat; rich
שָׁמֵן
This related form shares the root’s sense of oil and richness.
χωρίον
chōrion
GROWS FROM
χωρ
space, region, or room
“place” in this verse is chōrion. The Greek word marks out a particular space: the disciples are to stay there while Jesus goes elsewhere to pray. Its word family also carries the sense of room or space, making the separation part of the scene’s meaning.
ALSO GROWS
chōra: region; space
χώρα
This related noun names a wider area or expanse.
chōreō: make room; contain; proceed
χωρέω
This verb shares the root’s sense of space and room.
THE PATTERN
Prayer takes a distinct space within life with others, as a person turns directly toward God while others remain near.
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.THE THREAD
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.Matthew repeats the same Greek prayer verb when Jesus goes farther and speaks the cup he wishes could pass. The next verse shows what this movement toward God contains: desire, anguish, and an address that yields to the Father’s will.
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